First Dates Maître D' Mateo Saina: "I would love to be a music producer. I regret that I never pursued that"

Who would be the last person you would invite to your birthday party?
My ex-girlfriend.

Who would be the first person you would invite to your birthday party?
My family.

Favourite saying?
“Alright, let’s do this.”

Favourite record?
Loco Dice - ‘Definition’.

Favourite book?
The Alchemist.

Favourite film?
Se7en.

Favourite author?
Paolo Coelho

Favourite actor/actress?
Idris Elba.

Favourite musician?
Marco Carola, he’s an Italian house DJ.

Most embarrassing moment of your life?
One time I asked a lady who I thought was pregnant when the baby was due, and she had had the baby a month prior. That, or the time that I told a blind man ‘see you soon’.

Favourite food/drink/stimulant?
My favourite food is whatever someone else cooks, as long as I don’t have to cook. I eat everything, really. I’m willing to try anything.

TV programme?
First Dates.

Favourite TV personality?
Graham Norton.

Favourite item of clothing?
Jeans.

Most desirable date?
One that lasts for a really long time.

Favourite method of relaxation?
Family time, time with my daughter.

If you weren’t pursuing your present career, what other career might you have chosen?
I would love to be a music producer. I regret that I never pursued that.

Biggest thrill?
New challenges.

Biggest disappointment?
Failing a challenge.

Your concept of heaven?
“Finally, we meet”

Your concept of hell?
“You got what you deserve.”

What would be your dying words?
“I would do it all again”.

Greatest ambition?
To conquer my own biggest fears.

Period of history you’d most like to have lived in and why?
I already lived through it, but the 1990s. I wish I was just a little bit older to capitalise on it.

If you weren’t a human being which animal would you have chosen to be?
I’m a pisces, so some kind of fish.

If you were told that the world was ending tomorrow morning, how would you react/what would you do?
I would take my family, go somewhere with a nice view, and have some laughs.

Your nominee for the world’s best-dressed person?
Idris Elba dresses nicely. And Justin Timberlake.

Favourite term of abuse?
“For fuck’s sake.”

Biggest fear?
That I’m not going to provide the life my family deserves. I think we all have that fear.

Humanity’s most useful invention?
Electricity.

Humanity’s most useless invention?
Weapons. Guns.

• First Dates Ireland airs on RTÉ Two on Thursdays at 9.30pm